Toy target



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

STEPHEN L. WOODRUFF, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

I TOY TARGET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 288,605, dated November 13, 1883.

Application filed May 3, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, STEPHEN L. WooDRUEF, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Toy Targets; and 1 do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in toy targets; and it consists in the combination of a target of peculiar construction with a dart that is provided with a rubber tip and a steel barb, and connected to the target by 7 means of an elastic rubber cord, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my invention. Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the target. section of the dart.

.A represents a board forming the base of the target, on which is placed a circular layer of cork or other elastic substance, B, which may be painted in concentric rings of different colors, which may be numbered or have any other designations applied to them, as may be preferred; or thecork may have a layer of paper, 0, applied to its face, on which paper may be painted the rings.

D represents a dart, which is preferably formed of wood, and which is provided near its rear end with the feathers 1; for causing it to fly straight, and which has its inward end covered by a rubber tip, F, through which protrudes a steel barb, G, which is embedded in the front end of the dart.

H represents an elastic rubber cord, which is attached to the target at the center thereof and to the dart in any desired place.

Fig.3 isa In operation the dart is drawn away a suit able distance from the target, causing the cord to expand, which, by its retractile force on the dart being released from the hand, will cause it to fly toward the target.

By having the cord to connect the target with the dart, it is impossible for the dart to go out of its way and injure a bystander. The

target being made of cork or other elastic sub- V stance, deadens the sound of the dart when it strikes it, and thus renders it noiseless.

A target and dart thus constructed will form a harmless plaything for children, and will prove to them a great source of amusement.

If so desired, a non-elastic cord may be substituted for the elastic one heretofore described, and the impulse to the dart may be given by throwing it directly from the hand, or by means of a cross-bow, or air-gun, or other suitable contrivance.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. The combination of the target, the cord,

and the dart, provided with a steel point, G,

by means of which the dart is secured to the target, the target being composed of an elastic material, and the dart being provided with feathers for directing its course, and a rubber tip for deadening its sound when it strikes against the target, substantially as described.

2. The dart made of suitable material, having the feathers for directing its course, a rubber tip for deadening its sound, and a projecting steel barb or point, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I afix my signature in 

